Leak-proof container closure with adjustable spout



Oct. 23, 1962 1. a. KUBILIUNAS 3,059,821

LEAK-PROOF CONTAINER CLOSURE WITH ADJUSTABLE SPOUT Filed Aug. 30, 1960 I ee 30 v laweniw lgnaQr-B. (obi/1 01788 by fizz. Gaza. M

attorneys rates This invention is an improvement in container closures which incorporates a valve assembly whereby the container contents may be released at an accurately controllable rate. The valve assembly is also equipped with a self-locking feature in order that it may not be accidentally removed. The said container closure additionally incorporates a flange seat which prevents leakage of the container contents.

One of the objects of the invention is the production of a leak-proof closure with valving means which is accurately controllable and capable of fine adjustment even though made of inexpensive material and produced on a mass production basis. The invention involves only two pieces, which when engaged cannot he accidentally disengaged. The simplicity of the construction facilitates large scale production of an inexpensive dispensing closure which can be used to vary the flow of liquids with accuracy. The closure is so constructed that it is leakproof and capable of containing fluids of low surface tension while retaining fine adjustment of rate of flow.

Another object of this invention is to provide a container closure with an adjustable discharge orifice which will also seat firmly on the mouth of the container on which it is employed to eliminate leakage at this point.

Another object of this invention is to provide a container closure with a dispensing valve, which valve cannot be accidentally disengaged from the said container closure.

These and other objects of this invention become more apparent as the description proceeds with the aid of the accompanying drawings in which- FIG. 1 is a vertical section of the container closure in position on a container with the dispensing plug closed;

FIG. 2 is a section of the dispensing plug assembly taken on the line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view in vertical section taken on the line 33 of FIG. 1 showing the closure body and dispensing plug assembly self-locking stops in their relative position when the valve is fully seated;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view in vertical section taken on the line 3-3 of FIG. 1 showing the closure body and dispensing plug assembly self-locking stops in their relative position when the valve is fully opened.

Referring now to the drawings in more detail, in FIG. 1 a closure body 2, hereinafter referred to as the body, is shown fitted to a container 4. The container 4 may be of any suitable material including, but not limited to, glass, metal or plastic. The body 2, preferably constructed of molded plastic, is held to the container 4 by cooperating interior threads 6 on the body 2 which engage container threads 7. The body 2 is so constructed as to have a downwardly extending interior circular flange 8 of considerable flexibility. The flange diameter is such that when the body 2 is fully engaged on the container 4 the circular flange 3 will rest firmly on the mouth 9 of the container 4. Thus when the body 2 is threaded onto the container 4 the downward extending circular flange 8 makes a tight seal with the container mouth, thereby preventing escape of the container contents from between the container 4- and the body 2.

The body 2 is constructed with an opening 10 in the atent O H section looking upward of the dispensing closed end of said body 2 which defines a circular seat 12 on its upper side. Concentric with said circular seat 12 is an internally threaded upwardly extending cylindrical flange 14 molded as an integral part of the body 2.

The upwardly extending flange 14 is molded so as to include on its upper end face a raised stop 16. The stop 16 is shown in more detail in FIGS. 3 and 4, where it is seen on the end face of the flange 14.

FIG. 1 also shows the threaded dispensing plug assembly 29 which comprises a valve member 22 in conjunction with a threaded stem 24 and a spout 26, said spout 26 being molded with a corrugated rim 28 to facilitate rotation of the dispensing plug assembly 20. The threaded stem 24 engages with the threaded flange 14 so that the valve member 22 engages the circular seat 12 when the dispensing plug assembly 20 is screwed downwardly.

The stem 24 is so molded as to have a transverse passage 29 which connects with a vertical passage 30. The transverse passage 29 and the vertical passage 30 together permit the flow of container contents when the dispensing lug assembly 29 is unscrewed to free the valve member 22 from the circular seat 12. The vertical passage 30 begin-s at its juncture with the transverse passage 29 and terminates at the uppermost end of the spout 26. The

' transverse passage 29 extends completely through the valve stem 24. The transverse passage 29 is located in the dispensing plug assembly above the valve member 22 and below the threads on the valve stem 24.

A valve chamber 32 is provided with a conical bottom face 34 so that any container contents remaining in the valve chamber 32 will, prior to closing the valve, flow back through the opening ill into the container 4 when the latter is restored to an upright position.

FIG. 2 taken on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1 shows a crossplug assembly taken on the plane of the end face of the upper extending cylindrical flange 14 when the dispensing plug assembly 20 is fully engaged. This view shows the vertical pas sage 30, the depending stop 18 that cooperates with stop 16, the bottom face 35 of the cap 26, and the corrugated rim 28. Also shown is a circular channel 36 of such shape that the raised stop 16 on the upward extending cylindrical flange 14 may reside therein as the dispensing plug assembly 20 is rotated.

FIG. 3 shows the dispensing plug assembly 20 and its depending stop 18 in relation to the upward extending cylindrical flange 14 and raised stop 16 when the dispensing plug assembly 20 has been fully screwed. down and is engaging the circular seat 12. At this point there is no flow of container contents.

FIG. 4 is similar to FIG. 3 except that the dispensing plug assembly 20 has been rotated to the left until the raised stop 16 has engaged the depending stop 18, thereby preventing further rotation of the dispensing plug assembly 20. The object of the engaging stops is to limit rotation of the dispensing plug assembly 20 to slightly less than 360 degrees. When so rotated, the valve member 22 will be sufiiciently raised from circular seat 12 to allow the container contents to pass readily through the opening 10 into the valve chamber 34 and from there through the transverse passage 29 to the vertical passage 30 and thence out of the container closure.

Conversely, downward rotation of the dispensing plug assembly 20 from the open position of FIG. 4 will cause a gradual decrease in the rate of flow of the container contents until the valve member 22 is seated] on the circular seat 12.

The sloping configuration of stops 16 and 18 permits easy initial assembly. The plug assembly 20 is screwed into neck 14 until the inclined surfaces 40 and 42 engage. By the application of a little extra force, surface 40 slides up and over surface 42 so that the parts assume the position of FIG. 4. Further rotation, closing the valve, brings the stops to the position of FIG. 3.

It is my intention to cover all changes and modifications of the example of the invention herein chosen for purposes of disclosure which do not constitute departures from the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. A container closure comprising an interiorally threaded cap having integral therewith a flexible downwardly extending interior circular flange of such length that when the said cap is screwed on a correspondingly threaded upper end of a container said circular flange will engage the upper end of said container to form a seal therewith, an opening through the center of the closed end of said cap defining a circular seat on its upper side, an interiorally threaded upwardly extending cylindrical flange concentric with said seat, valve means comprising a threaded stem cooperating with said interior thread and terminating in a valve member which engages said seat when said stem is screwed downward- 1y, a passage through said stem commencing between said valve member and the engaging threads of said cylindrical flange and stem and terminating above said threads, cooperating means on said cap and stem limiting rotation of said stem to less than a full turn from closed position toward opened position whereby the flow of fluid from said container past said valve and through said passage may be accurately controlled.

2. A container closure comprising an interiorally threaded cap having integral therewith a flexible downwardly extending interior circular flange of such length that when the said cap is screwed on a correspondingly threaded upper end of a container said circular flange will engage the upper end of said container to form a seal therewith, an opening through the center of the closed end of said cap defining a circular seat on its upper side, an interiorally threaded upwardly extending cylindrical flange concentric with said seat, valve means comprising a threaded stem cooperating with said interior thread and terminating in a valve member which engages said seat when said stem is screwed downwardly, and a passage through said stern commencing between said valve member and the engaging threads of said cylindrical flange and stem and terminating above said threads, whereby the flow of fluid from said container past said valve and through said passage may be accurately controlled.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 326,747 Kells Sept. 22, 1885 1,274,867 Ford Aug. 6, 1918 2,898,017 Redmond Aug. 4, 1959 

